Bus Rapid Transit Capacity Research

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), which is a mass transit mode with low cost and short implementation period, is becoming increasing popular in Chinese cities. However, there is no practical theory for Chinese situation to analyses the capacity, which is necessary to BRT planning, design and operation. Basing on detailed data from Chinese BRT systems, the paper provide a more practical capacity analyses method.The BRT capacity concepts are introduced firstly: the system capacity is determined by its critical station, bus dwell time and operation reliability are two most significant factors influencing the capacity, and capacity is meaningless without considering level of service. Then, the thesis evaluates operation characteristics and factors influencing capacity for a typical BRT station. According to the arrival headway distribution and dwell time distribution validated from field surveys in Beijing, Hangzhou and Kunming, the GI/G/1 model is formed to calculate berth capacity, and how various factors influencing capacity is described detailed also. It is presented that articulated buses, pre-broad fare collection, level boarding, and right-of-way improvement are vital measures to improve berth capacity. The thesis also classes multi-berths stations by layout and operation measures, and discusses the capacity calculation method for multi-berths station. Moreover, the platoon operation, a very useful operation measure to improve capacity under limited road resource, is emphasized in capacity method. At last, field data from Hangzhou BRT Line B1 is used to verify model and that from Beijing BRT line 1 is analyzed detailed also.